I have faith in Mitch. I know that there has got to be more to the situation than we all know. I think we need to give the guy a chance before we put a fork in him. So what Phil's agent/publicist is calling the Buss family "shabby", it is his job to make Phil look like the good guy. Now I'm not saying that Phil is the bad guy, but there is nothing wrong with Mitch and Jim doing what they believe is right for this team. What were they supposed to do, wait until Phil made up his decision today, then tell Phil they don't want him? If the management's decision had already been made, why drag it on?

That being said, there is no doubt that Phil is more proven than D'Antoni, but give the guy a shot.

"Saturday morning, Jim Buss, called to ask if he could come and visit. I did not solicit or ask for the opportunity, but I welcomed both he and Mitch Kupchak into my home to discuss the possibility of my return to the Lakers as the head coach. We talked for over an hour and a half. No contractual terms were discussed and we concluded with a hand shake and an understanding that I would have until Monday (today) to come back to them with my decision. I did convey to them that I did have the confidence that I could do the job. I was awakened at midnight on Sunday by a phone call from Mitch Kupchak. He told me that the Lakers had signed Mike D'Antoni to a 3-year agreement and that they felt he was the best coach for the team. The decision is of course theirs to make. I am gratified by the groundswell of support from the Laker Fans who endorsed my return and it is the principal reason why I considered the possibility."

I hope he will be there Friday. It would only be fitting for his first game to be against his former team. Hopefully he can fly down on Wednesday, hold practice on Thursday, play on Friday, and practice again on Saturday. We will be playing Houston on Sunday and we will need a strong game.

"Saturday morning, Jim Buss, called to ask if he could come and visit. I did not solicit or ask for the opportunity, but I welcomed both he and Mitch Kupchak into my home to discuss the possibility of my return to the Lakers as the head coach. We talked for over an hour and a half. No contractual terms were discussed and we concluded with a hand shake and an understanding that I would have until Monday (today) to come back to them with my decision. I did convey to them that I did have the confidence that I could do the job. I was awakened at midnight on Sunday by a phone call from Mitch Kupchak. He told me that the Lakers had signed Mike D'Antoni to a 3-year agreement and that they felt he was the best coach for the team. The decision is of course theirs to make. I am gratified by the groundswell of support from the Laker Fans who endorsed my return and it is the principal reason why I considered the possibility."

"Saturday morning, Jim Buss, called to ask if he could come and visit. I did not solicit or ask for the opportunity, but I welcomed both he and Mitch Kupchak into my home to discuss the possibility of my return to the Lakers as the head coach. We talked for over an hour and a half. No contractual terms were discussed and we concluded with a hand shake and an understanding that I would have until Monday (today) to come back to them with my decision. I did convey to them that I did have the confidence that I could do the job. I was awakened at midnight on Sunday by a phone call from Mitch Kupchak. He told me that the Lakers had signed Mike D'Antoni to a 3-year agreement and that they felt he was the best coach for the team. The decision is of course theirs to make. I am gratified by the groundswell of support from the Laker Fans who endorsed my return and it is the principal reason why I considered the possibility."

Fan Since:When Magic crossed over the entire Warriors team in like 88. Chis Gatling looked like he was gonna cry.

Fav. Laker:KB

Posted November 12, 2012 - 06:44 PM

in 50 pages Im sure this has been said but why D'Antoni? Why Sloan either? Why would we want this old dinosaurs that have failed everywhere else they have been?
I look at what the Heat did. They brought in a young guy in Spo that can coach the team for the next 2-3 decades if he wants to. A new breed that can take the reigns of a franchise. Of course he had Rileys tutilage so that helps.
But I thought thats what we were doing with guys like Shaw and Rambo when PJ was our head coach. Then we axed them???

Instead of banking on proven past losers like D'Antoni (or Sloan if that woulda happened) that have never won a Chip in a combined 30-40 years, why dont we get some new blood? Grow a great coach from with in so to speak. Like what the Heat did with Spo.

I realize were charging on the NOW credit card. So we dont want to give time for a learning curve because of KB and Nashs age. But was D'Antoni truly the answer. Im not sold on the fact D'Antoni is much better than Brown. And I didnt like Brown at all. This just seems like we traded apples and oranges.

in 50 pages Im sure this has been said but why D'Antoni? Why Sloan either? Why would we want this old dinosaurs that have failed everywhere else they have been?I look at what the Heat did. They brought in a young guy in Spo that can coach the team for the next 2-3 decades if he wants to. A new breed that can take the reigns of a franchise. Of course he had Rileys tutilage so that helps.But I thought thats what we were doing with guys like Shaw and Rambo when PJ was our head coach. Then we axed them???

Instead of banking on proven past losers like D'Antoni (or Sloan if that woulda happened) that have never won a Chip in a combined 30-40 years, why dont we get some new blood? Grow a great coach from with in so to speak. Like what the Heat did with Spo.

I realize were charging on the NOW credit card. So we dont want to give time for a learning curve because of KB and Nashs age. But was D'Antoni truly the answer. Im not sold on the fact D'Antoni is much better than Brown. And I didnt like Brown at all. This just seems like we traded apples and oranges.

Mike has had Nash, Amare, Melo, Chandler, etc and what does he have to show for it? You don't win 11 championships just on talent alone.

We agree. Phil got it done with the Triangle...but he's had 4 HOF players which made things a LOT easier. Talent wins in the NBA...

And for all of the people thinking the Lakers would WILLING put themselves in this PR NIGHTMARE because they "couldn't wait" for Phil to get back to them have taken a holiday from reality.

With the FANS cheering for Phil, if they COULD have made it work (reasonably), they WOULD have. They have the talent. They have the money. They have everything except direction. Bringing back a legendary coach makes THEIR lives easier. It takes all of the pressure off the Front Office and places it squarely on Phil and the team.

Pulling the chair from under Phil and the fans without good cause does the OPPOSITE of take the heat off them. This is a HUGE risk in a town that does not forgive or tolerate 2nd-rate or 2nd best. I can honestly say that in this situation, I believe the reports of him asking for too much and I think anyone who says otherwise is lying...

in 50 pages Im sure this has been said but why D'Antoni? Why Sloan either? Why would we want this old dinosaurs that have failed everywhere else they have been?I look at what the Heat did. They brought in a young guy in Spo that can coach the team for the next 2-3 decades if he wants to. A new breed that can take the reigns of a franchise. Of course he had Rileys tutilage so that helps.But I thought thats what we were doing with guys like Shaw and Rambo when PJ was our head coach. Then we axed them???

Instead of banking on proven past losers like D'Antoni (or Sloan if that woulda happened) that have never won a Chip in a combined 30-40 years, why dont we get some new blood? Grow a great coach from with in so to speak. Like what the Heat did with Spo.

I realize were charging on the NOW credit card. So we dont want to give time for a learning curve because of KB and Nashs age. But was D'Antoni truly the answer. Im not sold on the fact D'Antoni is much better than Brown. And I didnt like Brown at all. This just seems like we traded apples and oranges.